shows that ended at exactly the right moment? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dean Winchester · 11-14-2007, 07:05 PM

well, there's always talk about shows that stayed a year or two to the party too long, and others that left before they truly had time to run their course, but how about the shows that ended their runs at the right time?

Some I can think of:
Seinfeld. It was on nine years but it still had enough fuel in the tank that it could've run another year or two but instead Jerry pulled out at the right moment since he knew the quality was slowly declining, but ended it before it ran on autopilot and became comfort food.

Sex And The City. Sarah Jessica Parker admitted when promoting the final season that she wanted to wrap when the fans would miss it instead of it getting stale (and it was going downhill in the last two years anyways). And luckily, she has kept her word that ending it in the sixth season would make it a lot easier to keep the door open to revisit the show in the future, and now they are making a movie 3 1/2 years later.

The Golden Girls. Seasons 5-7 were downhill from the first four seasons but it was still a quality show until the end. Bea Arthur knew that seven years was enough and ending the show in season 7 was respectful to the series, because Golden Palace proved that the time had passed.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I think there were a few seasons left in the tank if Joss and Sarah wanted to do it, but ending after season seven was probably the right thing to do, because even though season 7 wasn't so hot, it was still good enough that the fans would've loved a season 8, but Joss and Sarah both knew when it was time to bow out instead of running the show into the ground.

Family Ties. The show was declining but I still think another season or two could've been cranked out, but everyone involved knew that season 7 was as good of a time as any to bow out, and also Gary David Goldberg knew that a show as defining to the 1980's as Family Ties should go out with the 80's instead of lasting until 1990 or 1991.

what are some other shows that had relatively long runs that you felt went off at precisely the right moment, not too early and not too late

GARFIELDKOOL · 11-14-2007, 07:16 PM

Gimmie a Break!

Webster

The Flintstones

Mr. Belvedere

Martin

None of these shows seem to wear out their welcome, they ended at the right time.

USATVFAN · 11-14-2007, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

well, there's always talk about shows that stayed a year or two to the party too long, and others that left before they truly had time to run their course, but how about the shows that ended their runs at the right time?

Some I can think of:
Seinfeld. It was on nine years but it still had enough fuel in the tank that it could've run another year or two but instead Jerry pulled out at the right moment since he knew the quality was slowly declining, but ended it before it ran on autopilot and became comfort food.

Sex And The City. Sarah Jessica Parker admitted when promoting the final season that she wanted to wrap when the fans would miss it instead of it getting stale (and it was going downhill in the last two years anyways). And luckily, she has kept her word that ending it in the sixth season would make it a lot easier to keep the door open to revisit the show in the future, and now they are making a movie 3 1/2 years later.

The Golden Girls. Seasons 5-7 were downhill from the first four seasons but it was still a quality show until the end. Bea Arthur knew that seven years was enough and ending the show in season 7 was respectful to the series, because Golden Palace proved that the time had passed.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I think there were a few seasons left in the tank if Joss and Sarah wanted to do it, but ending after season seven was probably the right thing to do, because even though season 7 wasn't so hot, it was still good enough that the fans would've loved a season 8, but Joss and Sarah both knew when it was time to bow out instead of running the show into the ground.

Family Ties. The show was declining but I still think another season or two could've been cranked out, but everyone involved knew that season 7 was as good of a time as any to bow out, and also Gary David Goldberg knew that a show as defining to the 1980's as Family Ties should go out with the 80's instead of lasting until 1990 or 1991.

what are some other shows that had relatively long runs that you felt went off at precisely the right moment, not too early and not too late

I Think Family Ties Ratings Went Down Because NBC Took It Away From It Thursday Night Lead In The Cosby Show

OH Nuts! · 11-14-2007, 08:19 PM

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

USATVFAN · 11-14-2007, 09:52 PM

Home Improvement

catlover79 · 11-14-2007, 11:35 PM

^ Personally, I think Home Improvement stayed on about 1-2 seasons too long. Here are shows I think ended right at the top of their game:

Barney Miller
Bob Newhart Show
Newhart
WKRP
Mary Tyler Moore Show
Dick Van Dyke Show
Family

comedyfreak · 11-15-2007, 06:51 AM

Frasier

fullhousefan91619 · 11-15-2007, 05:00 PM

Reba

JulieSomoski · 11-15-2007, 05:04 PM

The Cosby Show - some may say it went a year too long, but I believe it ended at the perfect time. Another season would have put the show out of the top 20, plus we probably would have got a new character added to the show (maybe Pam's long lost sister?)-LOL

treky · 11-15-2007, 05:39 PM

THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW
THE BOB NEWHART SHOW
NEWHART
SIENFELD
BARNEY MILLER

TripperFan · 11-15-2007, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW
THE BOB NEWHART SHOW
NEWHART
SIENFELD
BARNEY MILLER

Agree with everything, and "FRIENDS"

JulieSomoski · 11-16-2007, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripperFan

Agree with everything, and "FRIENDS"

I don't know. I think MTM could have lasted another season. Sure, ratings were dipping a bit, but the show still had some energy left by 1977.

friendsfan77 · 11-16-2007, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullhousefan91619

Reba

While I do think the CW should have given them a full final season, I do think that Reba ended at the good time.

mstewart · 11-16-2007, 10:01 PM

Perfect Strangers
Maude
Golden Girls
Dick Van Dyke Show
The Bob Newhart Show
Family Ties
Family

dawsongirl · 11-16-2007, 10:09 PM

Adam-12

11-14-2007, 07:05 PM	#1
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	shows that ended at exactly the right moment? well, there's always talk about shows that stayed a year or two to the party too long, and others that left before they truly had time to run their course, but how about the shows that ended their runs at the right time? Some I can think of: Seinfeld. It was on nine years but it still had enough fuel in the tank that it could've run another year or two but instead Jerry pulled out at the right moment since he knew the quality was slowly declining, but ended it before it ran on autopilot and became comfort food. Sex And The City. Sarah Jessica Parker admitted when promoting the final season that she wanted to wrap when the fans would miss it instead of it getting stale (and it was going downhill in the last two years anyways). And luckily, she has kept her word that ending it in the sixth season would make it a lot easier to keep the door open to revisit the show in the future, and now they are making a movie 3 1/2 years later. The Golden Girls. Seasons 5-7 were downhill from the first four seasons but it was still a quality show until the end. Bea Arthur knew that seven years was enough and ending the show in season 7 was respectful to the series, because Golden Palace proved that the time had passed. Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I think there were a few seasons left in the tank if Joss and Sarah wanted to do it, but ending after season seven was probably the right thing to do, because even though season 7 wasn't so hot, it was still good enough that the fans would've loved a season 8, but Joss and Sarah both knew when it was time to bow out instead of running the show into the ground. Family Ties. The show was declining but I still think another season or two could've been cranked out, but everyone involved knew that season 7 was as good of a time as any to bow out, and also Gary David Goldberg knew that a show as defining to the 1980's as Family Ties should go out with the 80's instead of lasting until 1990 or 1991. what are some other shows that had relatively long runs that you felt went off at precisely the right moment, not too early and not too late

11-14-2007, 11:35 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	^ Personally, I think Home Improvement stayed on about 1-2 seasons too long. Here are shows I think ended right at the top of their game: Barney Miller Bob Newhart Show Newhart WKRP Mary Tyler Moore Show Dick Van Dyke Show Family
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11-15-2007, 06:51 AM	#7
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Frasier
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11-15-2007, 05:04 PM	#9
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	The Cosby Show - some may say it went a year too long, but I believe it ended at the perfect time. Another season would have put the show out of the top 20, plus we probably would have got a new character added to the show (maybe Pam's long lost sister?)-LOL
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11-15-2007, 05:39 PM	#10
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW THE BOB NEWHART SHOW NEWHART SIENFELD BARNEY MILLER
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11-14-2007, 07:16 PM	#2
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	Gimmie a Break! Webster The Flintstones Mr. Belvedere Martin None of these shows seem to wear out their welcome, they ended at the right time.

11-14-2007, 08:19 PM	#4
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	The Mary Tyler Moore Show

11-14-2007, 09:52 PM	#5
USATVFAN Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 31, 2007 Location: Kalispell, USA Posts: 1,742	Home Improvement

11-15-2007, 05:00 PM	#8
fullhousefan91619 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 11, 2005 Posts: 329	Reba

11-16-2007, 10:01 PM	#14
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	Perfect Strangers Maude Golden Girls Dick Van Dyke Show The Bob Newhart Show Family Ties Family

11-16-2007, 10:09 PM	#15
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	Adam-12